Method and apparatus for stunning of slaughter animals

Abstract

In stunning of slaughter animals by means of a box stunning apparatus with stunning atmosphere, boxes ( 1, 1 a , 1 b , 1 c , 1 d ) are conveyed around after one another to various stop positions by means of a transport system ( 11, 12 ). Animals to be stunned are driven forwards in a driveway ( 2 ) and into an entrance area ( 3 ). The animals in the entrance area are separated from other animals after a group of animals has passed into the area. The group is driven into an empty box ( 1 ) that is brought to a halt in the first stop position at the entrance area. The box is then conveyed into the stunning atmosphere. After the animals have been in the atmosphere the box is conveyed out of the atmosphere and is brought to a stop at an emptying area ( 13 ) to empty the box of stunning animals.

1. Method for stunning of slaughter animals in a stunning atmosphere in a stunning apparatus with boxes ( 1 ,  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ) that are conveyed around after one another to various stop positions by means of a transport system ( 11 , 12 ), wherein animals are driven forwards in a driveway ( 2 ) and into an entrance area ( 3 ), the animals in the entrance area are separated from other animals after a group of animals has passed into the area, and the group is driven into an empty box ( 1 ) that is brought to a halt in a first stop position at the entrance area, and wherein the box is then conveyed into the stunning atmosphere, and the box after the animals have been in the atmosphere is conveyed out of the atmosphere and is brought to a stop at an emptying area ( 13 ) to empty the box of stunned animals, comprising:
 measuring a time period comprising a separation time that elapses from a first state, at which the animals pass or are allowed to pass into the entrance area ( 3 ), and to a second state occurring during the period from a time when a group of animals has passed into the entrance area to a time when the group has been driven into the box or the filled box is ready for transport; 
 calculation of a desired box transport time to a third state, at which the filled box has been lowered into the atmosphere and a certain event occurs, which calculation is performed on the basis of the time period measured; and 
 controlling the transport system to obtain the desired box transport time to the third state. 
 
   
   
     2. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first state involves one of allowing access to the entrance area ( 3 ), the animals starting to pass into the area ( 3 ), or a specific event occurring between these states. 
   
   
     3. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the first state, the box ( 1 ) is brought to a halt in the first stop position during the animals's passage into the entrance area. 
   
   
     4. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein in part of the transport of the box towards the first stop position and the passage of animals into the entrance area is performed simultaneously, and the first state occurs at the end of the common period. 
   
   
     5. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the second state a group of animals is separated from other animals, the driving the group into a box is commenced, or a signal is provided indicating that the filled box is ready for lowering into the atmosphere. 
   
   
     6. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the time period calculated follows the time period measured. 
   
   
     7. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the third state, after lowering the box into the atmosphere the box is brought to a halt in the atmosphere in a second stop position. 
   
   
     8. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein a ready signal is provided indicating that a group of animals has entered the entrance area lead to separation by closure of the entrance to the area. 
   
   
     9. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the time period calculated depends inversely on the length of the time period measured, so that a relatively long, measured time period gives a relatively short, calculated time period, and a relatively short, measured time period gives a relatively long, calculated time period. 
   
   
     10. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the calculation is performed on the basis of the time period measured and in order to achieve a substantially constant sequential time, which is the time from the first to the third state. 
   
   
     11. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the time period calculated includes a delay period before the box starts from the first stop position. 
   
   
     12. Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the time period calculated is implemented by controlling the transport speed of the box and adding a possible delay period before the box starts from the first stop position. 
   
   
     13. Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the transport speed of the box is adjusted between a maximum value and a minimum value. 
   
   
     14. Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the time period calculated includes a delay period before the box starts from the first stop position if the time period calculated for the transport of the box to the third state at a minimum speed is insufficient to implement the time period calculated. 
   
   
     15. Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the box is transported at a maximum speed if the time period calculated for transporting the box to the third state requires a speed in excess of the maximum speed. 
   
   
     16. Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the time period calculated is also adjusted based on the time period measured for the previous box if it has been transported at a maximum speed. 
   
   
     17. Apparatus for stunning of slaughter animals in a stunning apparatus comprising: a driveway ( 2 ) to drive animals forwards and into an entrance area ( 3 ) with means for separating a group of animals that has passed into the area from other animals, boxes ( 1 ,  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c ,  1   d ) for the animals, and a transport system ( 11 , 12 ) to move the boxes around after one another to various stop positions, with the first stop position at the entrance area ( 3 ) to drive the animals into the box, wherein the transport system after filling of a box in the first stop position conveys the box into a stunning atmosphere, and after the animals have been in the atmosphere, moves the box out of the atmosphere and brings the box to a halt at an emptying area ( 13 ) to empty the box of stunned animals;
 a measuring arrangement ( 5 , 14 ) to measure a time period comprising a separation time that elapses from a first state, at which the animals pass or are allowed to pass into the entrance area ( 3 ), and to a second state occurring during the period from the time when a group of animals has passed into the entrance area ( 3 ) to the time when the group has been driven into the box or the filled box is ready for transport, a calculation unit ( 6 ) to calculate a desired box transport time to a third state, at which the filled box has been lowered into the atmosphere and a certain event occurs, which calculation is performed on the basis of the time period measured; and 
 a control device for the transport system to obtain the desired box transport time to the third state. 
 
   
   
     18. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the measuring arrangement is designed to measure the time period that elapses between the box being brought to a halt in the first stop position at the entrance area or the entrance area being opened to receive animals and until a group of animals in the entrance area is separated from other animals, the group is driven into the box, or the filled box is ready for lowering into the atmosphere. 
   
   
     19. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein a ready signal is provided to indicate that a group of animals has entered the entrance areas, upon which the entrance area closed for separation. 
   
   
     20. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the time period calculated is the time period that elapses between one of the filled box being closed or being ready for lowering into the atmosphere, and until the box after transport is brought to a halt in the atmosphere in a second stop position. 
   
   
     21. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the calculation unit comprises a calculation model which is so designed that the length of the time period calculated depends inversely on the length of the time period measured, so that a relatively long, measured time period gives a relatively short, calculated time period, and a relatively short, measured time period gives to a relatively long, calculated time period. 
   
   
     22. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the calculation unit comprises a calculation model that is so designed that the calculation is performed on the basis of the time period measured so as to achieve a substantially constant sequential time, which is the time from the first to the third state. 
   
   
     23. Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the motor for transport of the boxes by means of the transport system has a speed regulation, which is controlled by the calculated value.